Man gets probation for his role in shooting
Martin Guzma also ordered to pay $50,000 restitution
The plea offer for one of the two suspects charged in connection to the shooting of a 22-year-old Somerton man stipulated that he be sentenced to a term of probation, which is what he received Thursday morning in Yuma County Superior Court.
Appearing in person with his attorney Michael Donovan by his side, Martin Guzman listened as Superior Court Judge Rodger sentenced him to 48 months of supervised probation and ordered him to pay up to $50,000 in restitution to the victim.
Guzman, who now resides in California, pleaded guilty to an amended count of attempted armed robbery in a plea agreement with prosecutors last month. In return for that guilty plea, charges of attempted firstdegree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and burglary against him were dismissed.
In order to get the plea, Guzman had to admit at last month’s hearing that on July 26, he and an accomplice who had a gun, entered the home of the victim and committed a theft and an assault.
According to Somerton police, officers found out about the shooting while investigating a traffic accident on Highway 95 at milepost 13. Upon their arrival on scene, officers learned that a passenger in one of the vehicles involved in the traffic crash had been shot moments earlier in Somerton.
The victim, who had been shot once, was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center by Cocopah/ Somerton Fire Department paramedics. He was later airlifted to a medical facility in Phoenix. The driver of that vehicle was attempting to take the victim to the hospital when the crash occurred.
Investigating officers also learned the shooting had occurred at an address in the 600 block of East Orchid Street in Somerton prior to the traffic crash. When officers went to that location it was found to be unoccupied, so the scene was secured for crime scene processing.
Witness information was obtained from several individuals and a description of the suspects and vehicle was broadcast to area law enforcement agencies.
During the course of the investigation, Anthony Serrano and Guzman were identified as suspects. They were both taken into custody without incident on July 27, 2017, at a residence in the 3100 block of West 17¾ Street in Somerton.
Serrano, who pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault in one of two plea offers and one count of misconduct of weapons — for being in possession of a handgun — has been sentenced to prison.